HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.883 2012-2014 J Yoshimoto
From: Jessica Lange <jessical @Ifbf.org>
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2013 8:15 AM
To: J Yoshimoto; Brenda Ford; Valerie Poindexter; Dennis Onishi; Dru Mamo Kanuha;
Greggor Illagan; Karen Eoff; Margaret Wille; Zendo Kern
Subject: Bill 79 Testimony
Attachments: Bill79testimony.pdf
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July 30, 2013
COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND MASS TRANSIT
TESTIMONY IN OPPOSITION TO
BILL 79
Dear Chairwoman Wille and committee members:
My name is Ronald Anderson and I am President of Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.
I am writing in opposition to Bill 79 which will ban the growing of genetically engineered
products on the Big Island. Bill 79 makes inaccurate assumptions that have no scientific data or
facts to justify its passage.
While I understand that we do not reside or farm in the State of Hawaii or on the Big Island for
that matter, our organization and its members rely on the seeds that are grown in Hawaii to be
planted throughout the United States. Hawaii is a critical part of the viability of our U.S. farmers
and food production.
As farmers, we take our environmental stewardship and the seeds we grow very seriously as it is
our farm families livelihood at stake to care for the land and produce safe products for many
future generations to come. Because of sound science and genetic modification, farmers are able
to be more viable to address the many on-going agricultural challenges. Science and technology
has helped farmers and ranchers become more efficient while increasing production.
The regulatory requirements of genetically modified organisms are very extensive and thorough.
The USDA, FDA and EPA all work together on all aspects of regulating genetically engineered
organisms from agriculture, food safety, and the environment. In addition to these strict
government regulations, over 600 independent studies have found no safety or health concerns
directly related to genetic modified organisms.
We appreciate the importance of Hawaii's agriculture to the American farmer and the role it has
on making food affordable for all U.S. citizens, including Hawaii and the Big Island. There
needs to be more dialogue with all concerned to gain a better appreciation and understanding of
this complex issue.
We respectfully urge the Council to vote No to Bill 79.
Sincerely,
Ronald Anderson
LFBF President